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    Orientalis

    /oh-ree-en-TAH-lis/
    🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate

    Also known as: orientale

    A geographic epithet broadly indicating a plant from eastern regions — historically used for plants from the Middle East, Turkey, the Caucasus, Central Asia, or East Asia. Its meaning is less precise than japonicus or chinensis but situates the plant as originating east of Europe. Appears as orientalis (both genders).

    Etymology

    From Latin orientalis, meaning "eastern," from oriens (the rising sun, the east), present participle of oriri (to rise).

    Example

    Platanus orientalis (Oriental plane), Thuja orientalis (now Platycladus orientalis), and Helleborus orientalis all hail from various regions east of their European counterparts.